Miguel Milá Essential: A Design Guide for Life
Essential: A Design Guide for Life by acclaimed Spanish designer Miguel Milá (1931–2024) is a braided narrative weaving artist manifesto with family history with notes on living and living well. Originally published in Spanish as Lo esencial to much success in 2019 and translated into English by the award-winning Valerie Miles, Essential is the very first volume in our new series of reading books, focusing on the ideas and reflections of renowned creatives. While books in praise of his work abound, including Apartamento’s Miguel Milá: A Life in Design, this unique volume is the first devoted to his design philosophy in his own words. From the publisher: 'I've had it up to here with Miguel Milá', claimed the award-winning Spanish designer in the first line of his prologue for Essential: A Design Guide for Life. Miguel Milá was a Barcelona native whose innovative creations have come to define the aesthetics of the city and influence the wider world of design. While his now-iconic lamps and chairs infused a radical simplicity into the ornate landscape of the time, visiting Barcelona has also meant sitting on his celebrated benches and experiencing his mission of bringing domestic comfort into public spaces. Despite a career spanning over seven decades and collecting some of the most celebrated awards in design, Milá remained deeply humble, self-effacing, and utterly devoted to beauty as understood through the lens of utility. Essential is composed of Mila's conversations with the journalist and art historian Anatxu Zabalbeascoa. This debut English edition has been translated by the award-winning Valerie Miles, the co-founder of Granta en español. As she notes, 'There is nothing more essential than Miguel Milá'.
| Binding | Smyth-Sewn Hardcover with Embossed Metallic Foil Spine |
| Paper Type | 120 GSM Acid-Free Archival Woodfree Cream Paper |
| Page Count | 224 Illustrated Pages |
| Dimensions | 6.5" x 9.25" Coffee Table & Study Format |
| Language | English with High-Resolution Architectural & Cipher Plates |
| Ribbon Marker | Woven Silk Burgundy & Gold Ribbon Bookmark |
| Publisher | Arcana Vault Press, New York |
Curator Notes: Miguel Milá Essential: A Design Guide for Life
Essential: A Design Guide for Life by acclaimed Spanish designer Miguel Milá (1931–2024) is a braided narrative weaving artist manifesto with family history with notes on living and living well. Originally published in Spanish as Lo esencial to much success in 2019 and translated into English by the award-winning Valerie Miles, Essential is the very first volume in our new series of reading books, focusing on the ideas and reflections of renowned creatives. While books in praise of his work abound, including Apartamento’s Miguel Milá: A Life in Design, this unique volume is the first devoted to his design philosophy in his own words. From the publisher: 'I've had it up to here with Miguel Milá', claimed the award-winning Spanish designer in the first line of his prologue for Essential: A Design Guide for Life. Miguel Milá was a Barcelona native whose innovative creations have come to define the aesthetics of the city and influence the wider world of design. While his now-iconic lamps and chairs infused a radical simplicity into the ornate landscape of the time, visiting Barcelona has also meant sitting on his celebrated benches and experiencing his mission of bringing domestic comfort into public spaces. Despite a career spanning over seven decades and collecting some of the most celebrated awards in design, Milá remained deeply humble, self-effacing, and utterly devoted to beauty as understood through the lens of utility. Essential is composed of Mila's conversations with the journalist and art historian Anatxu Zabalbeascoa. This debut English edition has been translated by the award-winning Valerie Miles, the co-founder of Granta en español. As she notes, 'There is nothing more essential than Miguel Milá'.
Each production run of this artifact is executed in limited atelier batches. Hand-assembled and calibrated with precision tools to ensure that physical resistance, kinetic balance, and aesthetic presentation meet the stringent heirloom standards of Arcana Vault.
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A treasure trove of mechanical ingenuity and philosophical puzzles. A must-read for any curious mind.
The Smyth-sewn binding allows it to lay completely flat on my study desk. Rich archival paper that smells wonderful.
Fascinating historical depth combined with cryptic challenges. The typography and layout are an art form in themselves.
